Perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem in predicting bulimic symptomatology: lack of replication

Few prospective studies have tested multivariate models of bulimic pathology development, but two studies have found support for a Perfectionism x Body Dissatisfaction x Self-Esteem etiologic model (Vohs, K.D., Bardone, A.M., Joiner, T.E., Abramson, L.Y., & Heatherton, T.F., 1999;108:695-700; Vohs et al., 2001;20:476-497). The current study sought to provide an independent replication of these promising findings.

Data from 496 adolescent girls that were followed prospectively over a 1-year period were used to test this predictive model.

Although our study should have provided a more sensitive test of this model because we used a sample at higher risk for bulimic symptom increases, more sensitive diagnostic interviews, a longer follow-up period, and a larger sample, the three-way interaction did not predict subsequent increases in bulimic symptoms.

Results suggest that the predictive power of this interactive model may not be as robust as previously believed.